About Sound started in 2018 after I attended a few gigs in Newport and realised there was an abundance of talent in the City, but that no-one was really writing about it and that someone should, and that someone should be me.

The blog lasted about four years and at one point had a team of four people all contributing. Around 2022 things started to drop off a little. I was co-running events at the once, and now once again, defunct Westgate Hotel and had started a record label, Dirty Carrot Records, with my good friend and musician Joe Kelly, of Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy.

Something had to give, so the blog went. But in 2023 The Westgate crashed due to no fault of our own. Me and Dai put everything and more into that building, but sometimes the universe (and money grabbing representative of the buildings leaseholder) is just against you. While Dirty Carrot Records is still thriving as a label, promoter and festival stage curator, I feel I have become a little insular and had lost track of the local scene a little.

So here it is, re-booted and this time with an actual, paid for domain. And with an Instagram page. In this incarnation, About Sound will serve a singles only review blog. Short, snappy, concise/waffly reviews focussing on artists in and around the Newport area, including artists who play regularly in the city and support it’s music scene.

Please don’t be disappointed if I don’t review your single. It doesn’t mean I don’t like your track, it just means I’m probably overloaded or busy elsewhere. If I don’t pick up this one, there’s a good chance I’ll get the next one!

Thanks for reading.
Gav